PRIM&R commemorates the 50th anniversary of the National Research Act of 1974 on Friday, July 12, with The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) through a free virtual event from 12:00–2:30 PM ET.

The National Research Act established the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, leading to the Belmont Report. This act represents a watershed moment in the formalization of ethical oversight in human research.

The National Research Act came in response to the infamous Syphilis Study, which withheld treatment from Black men with syphilis to study the impact of the disease on the human body. The Syphilis Study exposed severe ethical violations in human research. Consequently, the National Research Act was enacted, mandating the development of federal rules to protect human participants. This pivotal moment paved the way for the formation of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, tasked with defining ethical standards to govern human research endeavors.

The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research spent almost four years engaged in monthly discussions and deliberations, leading to the publication of the Belmont Report in 1976. The report outlined fundamental ethical principles for conducting research involving human subjects, including respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

In honor of this significant contribution The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) is hosting a virtual event commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Research Act on Friday, July 12, 2024, from 12:00 to 2:30 PM ET.

The event will be live-streamed across the nation for anyone to watch without registration. Experts will reflect on what happened following the passage of the National Research Act, showcase the diverse role research participants play in contemporary research, and consider what future scientific advances may mean for research participants and public trust in research.

PRIM&R’s Executive Director, Ivy Tillman, EdD, CCRC, CIP, will briefly discuss the history of PRIM&R, an organization created in response to the need for public understanding of these regulations.

The 50th anniversary of the National Research Act serves as a reminder of the significant strides made in ethical oversight within human research.

Join PRIM&R on July 12, 2024, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Research Act. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from experts during the OHRP event for a deeper dive into the history and significance of the National Research Act.